Tension equalizer for spinning frames



\ A ril 14, 1936. E. D, MEADOWS ZQQZE TENSION EQUALIZER FOR SPINNING FRAMES Filed June 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April'14, 1936. I E D MEADOWS 2,3?,3$

TENSION EQUALIZER FOR SPINNING FRAMES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1935 Patented Apr. 14, 1936 PATENT OFFICE TENSION EQUALIZER FOR SPINNING FRAMES Earnest D. Meadows, Huntsville, Ala.

Application June 20, 1935,. Serial No. 27,602

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to textile machinery and more particularly to spinning or twister frames.

Machines of this character, as. commonly employed, comprise a central driving cylinder, with the spindles arranged on both sides thereof, and a driving band passing around said driving cylinder'and a plurality of spindles.

It is necessary to provide means for taking up the slack in this driving band so that a uniform and equalized tension throughout all runs of the band is maintained.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved tension equalizer having it; means by which itmay be universally adjusted so as to. meet the requirements of any and all conditions which may arise.

A further object is to provide a universally adjustable tension equalizer of this character in '20 the nature of an attachment which may be easily.

and readily applied to existing spinning and twister frames without the necessity of altering the construction thereof.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which:--

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a typical spinning and twister frame showing my improved tension equalizer applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same;

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side and edge view of my improved equalizer attachment, the same comprising an idler pully and an arm on which said pulley is mounted;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional'view through the arm and pulley constituting my improved equalizer, and showing the method of attaching the same to the spindle rail of the frame; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the usual spinning and twister frame comprises aplurality of sampsons I', connected at each side by longitudinally extending spindle rails 3 and 4. Extending horizontally and centrally through the frame is a power or driving cylinder 2,'mounted in suitable bearings (not shown).

Journalled in bearings 5 carried by the spindle 50 rails 3, and disposed at each side of the machine are a series of spindles 6 each having secured thereto a driving pulley or whorl 1.

Passing around the driving cylinder 2 and the whorls I of a plurality of spindles is a driving band 8. As shown in the drawings, a single band such as .8 drives a group of four spindles, and it will be understood that there are a number of such groups mounted in the frame.

By reference. to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the driving band 8 is looped around the cylinder 2 5 three different times, as indicated at a, b and c. The idler pulley forming part of my improved tension equalizer is indicated at 9 in Fig. 1, and by reference to this figure, it will be seen that the band 8 includes a fourth loop a which extends 10 around this idler pulley.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, it will be seen that my improved idler pulley 9 is journalled by means of a bearing I! on a pin or bolt H], which is secured to one end of an arm I I, '15 shown as formed of a pair of metal strips. The other end of this arm is pivotally connected by means of a pin 12 to one leg of an angle bracket I3, the other leg of said bracket being provided with an elongated slot l4 adapted to receive a 20 boltt5' for securing it to one of the spindle rails such as 4.

In order that the length of the arm Il may be varied as required to meet difierent conditions, the arm is provided with a plurality of holes It, T915 through any one of which the pivot pin [2 may extend.

Secured to the end of the arm adjacent the pulley 9 is a weight l8. This is carried by a plate or bracket 20 having flanges at its edges 39 which embrace the edges of the arm I I, and provided' with an elongated slot 20 through which the bearing pin or bolt l0 passes, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. By loosening the nut on the bolt ill, the plate 19 carrying the weight l8 may be adjusted longitudinally of the arm and then clamped inadjustedv position by tightening the nut again. Furthermore, by unscrewing this nut, the weight I3 may be detached entirely, or its position may be reversed from that shown 40 in Fig. 3, to that illlustrated in Fig. 5. By this means, the distance of the weight l8 from the pivot l2' may be adjusted as required, so that different degrees of tension may bev applied to the band, as desired. Furthermore, I contemplate providing a set of interchangeable Weights of different Values, any suitable one of which may be selected and attached to the arm, in accordance with conditions.

The method of mounting the. arm II on the spindle rail 4 by means of the slotted bracket l3 and bolt l5 constitutes an important feature of my invention. By virtue of this arrangement, it will be seen, from an inspection of Fig. 6, that not only may the arm ll be adjusted longitudinally of the spindle rail, but it may be swung about the bolt I5 as a pivot, to any desired angle, such, for example, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

It will be understood, of course, that the arm H and pulley 9 can swing freely in their own planes about the pivot l2, the weight l8 serving to maintain the desired tension on the band. It is, however, usually desirable to set the plane of the pulley 9 at an acute angle to the axis of the driving cylinder 2, and my improved construction permits of this pulley being set at any angle required or even completely turned through and thus reversed. It will be noted that this angular adjustment takes place around the bolt I5, the axis of which is parallel to the plane in which the arm and pulley swing.

In applying my improved attachment to existing spinning and twister frames, it is only necessary to bore a hole in the spindle rail to receive the bolt l5. This hole can, of course, be placed at any desired point, and the bracket l3 carrying the pulley and arm may then be adjusted longitudinally and angularly to meet any existing conditions. It will further be noted that the pivot I2 is at right angles to the axis of the bolt I5 so that, in fact, the pulley 9 is capable of universal adjustment.

What I claim is: r

1. In a spinning or twister frame having a driving cylinder, spindle rails, spindles mounted on said rails, and a driving band extending between said cylinder and a plurality of said spindles, a tension equalizer for said band comprising a Weighted idler pulley around which the band is looped, an arm on which said pulley is mounted, and means for supporting said arm on one of said spindle rails for angular adjustment relative thereto about an axis laterally spaced from and parallel with the plane of said pulley.

2. In a spinning or twister frame having a driving cylinder, spindle rails, spindles mounted on said rails, and a driving band extending between said cylinder and a plurality of said spindles, a tension equalizer for said band comprising a weighted idler pulley around which the band is looped, an arm on which said pulley is mounted, and means for supporting said arm for swinging movement in its own plane, and for angular adjustment about an axis parallel with and at one side of said plane.

3. In a spinning or twister frame having a driving cylinder, spindle rails, spindles mounted on said rails, and a driving band extending between said cylinder and a plurality of said spindles, a tension equalizer for said band comprising a weighted idler pulley around which the band is looped, and means for adjusting the plane of said pulley to any desired angle relative to the axis of said cylinder, while maintaining the axis of said pulley parallel with a vertical plane through the axis of said cylinder. 1

4. In a spinning or twister frame having a driving cylinder, spindle rails, spindles mounted on said rails, and a driving band extending between said cylinder and a plurality of said spindles, a tension equalizer for said band comprising a weighted idler pulley around which the band is looped, an arm on which said pulley is mounted, means for supporting said arm on one of said spindle rails for angular adjustment relative thereto about an axis at one side of and parallel with said arm, and means for varying the length of said arm.

5. An attachment for spinning or twister frames having a driving cylinder, spindle rails, and a driving band, said attachment comprising an idler pulley adapted to receive a loop of said band, an arm on which said pulley is mounted, and means for supporting said arm on one of said spindle rails for angular adjustment about an axis laterally spaced from and parallel with said arm.

6. An attachment for spinning or twister frames having a driving cylinder, spindle rails, and a driving band, said attachment comprising an idler pulley adapted to receive a loop of said band, an arm on which said pulley is mounted,

.meansfor pivotally supporting said arm for swinging movement in the plane of said pulley, and means for securing said arm to one of said spindle rails for angular adjustment about an axis located at one side of and parallel with said plane.

'7. An attachment for spinning or twister frames having a driving cylinder, spindle rails, and a driving band, said attachment comprising an idler pulley adapted to receive a loop of said band, an arm on which said pulley is mounted,

a bracket to which said arm is pivotally connected, and means for securing said bracket to one of said spindle rails for angular adjustment with respect thereto about an axis at one side of said arm.

8. An attachment for spinning or twister frames having a driving'cylinder, spindle rails, and a driving band, said attachment comprising an idler pulley adapted to receive a loop of said band, an arm on which said pulley is mounted, and an angle bracket to one leg of which said arm is pivotally connected, the other leg of said bracket having an elongated slot adapted to receive a bolt by which said bracket may be secured to one of said rails.

9. An attachment for spinning or twister frames having a driving cylinder, spindle rails, and a driving band, said attachment comprising an idler pulley adapted to receive a loop of said band, an arm on which said pulley is mounted, Y

means for pivotally supporting said arm on one of said spindle rails, and a weight secured to said arm adjacent said pulley, said weight comprising a member having an elongated slot through which extends a clamping bolt, whereby said weight may be readily detached or its position on said arm may be adjusted as desired, or reversed. EARNEST D. MEADOWS. 

